The update highlights information from the first half of 2024 and reveals that 4.5 million people are displaced and a total of 18.2 million people need humanitarian aid.
The refugee agency relies on updated information from 47,000 families who have “suffered years of conflict”.
Important challenges
Among the families surveyed, 84 percent were recorded as having relocatedmainly from the Al Hudaydah, Taizz and Hajjah regions. It is noted that these families are constantly on the move due to “persistent instability”.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government has been fighting Houthi rebels for control of the country for more than a decade, with the fighting fueled by international backers on both sides.
Tens of thousands of people have died and although a now-expired UN-brokered ceasefire has largely prevailed, peace talks aimed at finding a lasting solution have yet to take place. bring little progress.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The update further reported that about 85 percent of families are struggling with food security, finding it difficult to meet their daily food needs.
UNHCR representative in Yemen, Marin Kajdomcaj, said a father he met in Hudaydah explained that he often had to ration food to ensure his children could eat every day.
“This is the harsh reality for countless families across Yemen.“, Mr. Kajdomcaj said.
Additionally, an update from the refugee agency said that Every family has at least one vulnerable member or an individual with a disability.increased protection needs in displaced communities.
Civil documents
Another major challenge these families now face is the issue of civil documents — an often overlooked crisis, according to UNHCR.
The update said more than half of the families surveyed had at least one child without a birth certificate and more than 70 percent had family members without a national ID card.
This poses a problem because without these documents, access to vital services, education and other rights is limited, UNHCR said.
“Without them, families would face significant barriers to receiving support. and access to opportunities, exacerbating the challenges they face,” the update noted.
The refugee agency is stepping up cash assistance programs in Yemen to help people obtain IDs. The money can also be used to cover basic needs.
UNHCR’s efforts
UNHCR aims to ensure long-term stability for displaced families in Yemen through “Integrate essential services into community infrastructure“ .
This includes providing long-term shelter solutions such as temporary shelter units, home rehabilitation and improved living conditions at host community facilities.
However, many families said they did not feel safe returning home due to concerns about instability and lack of livelihood opportunities, among other challenges.
The needs of these families are “urgent and immense,” said UNHCR representative in Yemen, Mr. Kajdomcaj.
“They are not just statistics; They are parents, children and the elderly who deserve the opportunity to live in dignity and hope.“, he said.
The refugee agency called for increased humanitarian aid to focus on helping families survive and rebuild their lives.
“The international community must continue to stand by them and provide the necessary support,” said Mr. Kajdomcaj.
